John Arlievsky: singer, conductor, composer and pianist

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John Arlievsky is an up-and-coming baritone, conductor, composer and pianist whose recent successes are building momentum towards the start of a fulfilling career in music. Upcoming engagements include recitals at the Smithsonian’s African American Heritage Museum in Washington, DC, and at the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Sign in Manhattan; Guglielmo in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte in workshop and performances lead by Luke Housner at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia; and the remaining 5/7 concerts in the 2023 season of Osanna Chamber Ensemble as their chief conductor, which opened in March with two immersive performances of Arvo Pärt’s complete Kanon Pokajanen.

Recent performances of note include the title role of Don Giovanni with Peabody Opera Theatre (Laurie Rodgers, cond. and Mary Duncan-Steidl, dir.); an outreach lecture-recital produced by the Denyce Graves Foundation’s Shared Voices initiative; and An Evening of Art Song and Opera Ensemble Showcase concerts at the Castleton Festival as a part of their Vocal Immersion Program. He currently studies voice performance in the studio of Randall Scarlata at Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University.

John’s most notable operatic work prior to this season includes his German debut as Dr. Falke in Berlin Opera Academy’s production of Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, and several performances with Peabody Opera Theatre: as Blansac in Rossini’s La scala di seta, as Le Genderme in Poulenc’s Les mamelles de Tirésias, and in several Opera Scenes programs. In addition to his operatic work, John has appeared in concert as a soloist with the Rockland Symphony and Peabody Concert Orchestras, and has a keen interest in singing art-song in German, Russian, French, and English, having received first prize in the undergraduate division of the 2022 Peabody Art Song Competition.

Currently, John is an inaugural fellow of the Denyce Graves Foundation’s Shared Voices initiative, a unique endeavor connecting promising singers from both top US conservatories and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with the goal of advancing their burgeoning careers while shedding light on historically under-represented figures in vocal music.

John began his studies at Westminster Choir College as a triple major in piano performance, voice performance, and composition. There, he studied voice with Sharon Sweet then (upon her retirement) Elem Eley, piano with James Goldsworthy, composition with Stefan Young and Joel Phillips, and conducting with James Jordan. At Westminster, John made his operatic debut as Don Alfonso in Westminster Opera Theatre’s production of Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte. John received first prize in the several competitions that he entered, awards for which included performance opportunities, cash prizes, and named scholarship grants.

After two successful years at Westminster, John decided to consolidate his focus on voice. Undergoing an extensive transfer audition process, John was offered top scholarships at Eastman School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, and Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, and was a finalist for acceptance to the Curtis Institute. John is honored to study at Peabody Conservatory with a Premier Talent Scholarship.

In addition to his work as a solo vocalist, John is an active freelance choral singer, singing for professional ensembles across the globe, including Westminster Symphonic Choir, Williamson Voices, Westminster Kantorei, The Same Stream, PaTRAM Institute Male Choir, and NEXT Ensemble. In 2021, John founded the 501(c)(3) semi-professional choir Osanna Chamber Ensemble, which he continues to lead as president, artistic director, and chief conductor.  After a successful debut in August, 2021 in NYC, Osanna continues to produce exciting projects, including a concert series in 2023, an educational outreach program, and an academic residency in development for 2024-25.

Please join us on May 21, 2023 for John’s solo concert and vodka tasting. Tickets are available online and at the door.

The fundraiser concert benefits the Osanna Chamber Ensemble’s 2023 season.